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The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Tuesday, October 21, 2014- 7
Gardner healthy for MSU
MEWS BASKETBALL
Fresh Five bond
remains strong
By MAX COHEN
Daily Sports Editor
When Devin Gardner entered
postgame media availability
wearing a boot on his left foot
after the Michigan football
team's 18-13 victory over Penn
State last weekend, it was clear
the victory had taken a toll.
The fifth-year senior
quarterback had been
temporarily removed from
the game in the third quarter
because of the injury, but he
V fought through the pain and
had been reinserted in the
beginning of the fourth quarter.
Gardner said he thought
he'd be ready to play after
the team's bye week. With a
greater challenge against No.
8 Michigan State looming, the
timing of the injury wasn't
exactly ideal.
Iast season, the Spartans'
defense spanked Gardner and
the Wolverines' offense, sacking
the quarterback seven times.
The combination of returning
from injury and Michigan
State's potent defense could be
a daunting task, but Gardner
insisted there will be no mental
hurdle in getting ready to
play the team that delivered
punishing hits last season.
Monday, Gardner said he felt
no ill effects from the injury.
"I felt like I was pretty
healthy, could've practiced last
week, but they wanted to hold
me out, so I got a chance to get
a lot of mental reps," Gardner
said. "But I practiced yesterday
fine, and I'm right where I was
before the injury."
Michigan will need a healthy
Gardner to pull off the upset.
The Spartans have the ninth-
best defense in the country,
surrendering an average of
292.7 yards per game.
TERESA MATHEW/Daily
Fifth-year senior quarterback Devin Gardner wasn't ina boot Monday, and the coaches said he's "full-go" in practice.
Though there are multiple
personnel changes in Michigan
State's defense from last season,
memories of the Spartans'
dominance a. year ago are still
fresh. The Wolverines rushed for
minus-48 yards in that contest.
"Last year was last year,"
said redshirt junior offensive
lineman Jack Miller. "And that
was a great Michigan State
defense.This year,itlooks alittle
different, the guys that they
have, but it's the same type of
thing, the same type of scheme
and a lot of great players on the
defensive side of the ball."
Michigan coach Brady Hoke
understands the challenge
facing his offense that has
struggled at numerous points
this season. Gardner has
thrown eight interceptions,
but Hoke said preventing
mistakes against the Spartans
goes beyond the quarterback
position.
"I think we all need to play
our best football, whether it be
Devin or anyone else," Hoke
said. "We talked about the
negative rushing yards a year
ago; that's not just on Devin.
When a guy gets sacked and all
that kind of stuff, you're turning
some people loose and some of
it is also he's got to get rid of the
ball. There's a rhythm to it."
The two teams enter the
beginning of the rivalry week
in vastly different positions.
The Wolverines are fighting
for a possible bowl game berth,
while Michigan State has
been mentioned as a possible
contender for a spot in the
College Football Playoff.
Michigan won't change its
mantra of focusing on itself
rather than worrying about
the opponent. Gardner stated
multiple times Monday that
every loss hurts him equally,
rivalry or not.
This week, he chooses to
focus on the positive effects
a win could have on his team,
rather than the damage it would
inflict on the aspirations of the
Spartans.
"It's not about us ruining
their season. It's about us,"
Gardner said.
michign~
ivingan j
get advice
McGary, Ro
and Staus
By DANIEL FEL
Daily Sports W
ROSEMONT, I
Spike Albrecht, the
"bittersweet."
Sure, he'll be lo
of his good frien
Stauskas, Mitch M
Glenn Robinson III
also have three ne'
watch on the NBA L
at his apartment.
While it appear
is ready to embrac
leadership role on
young Michiga
basketball team, it'l
time for the junior gi
with the absence of
best friends.
"It's a little bit
Albrecht said. "Ju
personally, those w
my really close frien
"Obviously
I was excited
for them to
start a new
chapter in
their lives,
but not having
three of my
best friends
with me at
school, who
I literally
spent 10
months out of the y
a lot different. But
in touch with them
so those friendship
forever."
Albrecht, unlike
teammates,'knows
play professiorally
acknowledges the o
left at Michigan
"Fresh Five" 2012
class likely will.
For Caris Le
relationship with
McGary and Robins
the same. Though
is no longer on c
junior guard still ta
"probably a coupl
week."
"I ask them a lot
about how it is," LeV
Recently,
conversations with
have turned into
encouragement for
recover from his foo
for Stauskas and R
get through training
'Though talk abou
rookies' transition t
is a hot topic fort
Albrecht knows t
McGary, Stauskas an
are learning will he
more than himself.
"They'll talk to m
league, this and tha
iniors said. "They'll tell Caris about it,
but Caris is learning more about
f rof things like that."
LeVert might be the next
Wolverine in line to enter the
skas NBA, but like his tight-lipped
teammates who went lastyear,he
remains focused on the present.
LDMAN "One thing I respect about
'riter Caris is he doesn't get caught up
with things like that - the NBA
l. - For or things like that," Albrecht
feeling was said. "He's focused on things
this season. What he can do to
ising three help us win this year. That's
ds - Nik why I've got a great deal of
cGary and respect for him. And those guys
- but he'll who just (went to the NBA),
w teams to they're all the same way. And
League Pass that's why we've been able to be
successful."
's Albrecht As far away as LeVert is
e his new from making a decision about
a notably declaring for the draft, he
n men's knows his conversations with
I take some McGary, Stauskas and Robinson
uard to deal will "affect me greatly until I
some of his get to that decision point."
But as Albrecht said, that
different," decision isn't anywhere near
st for me LeVert's mind right now.
ere three of "Right now, I'm not really
ds. looking into that," he said. "(I'm)
just kind of
checking in
with those
"Those w ere guys.. Before
basketball
three of my they're my
r l co brothers first.
But I think
friends." when it gets to
that point, me
talking tothem
will really help
me."
ear with, is Though LeVert and Albrecht
I still keep are separated from the other
all the time, members of the Fresh Five by
s will last thousands of miles, they know
the group will be reunited soon
his former enough.
he won'ft After all, McGary, Stauskas
. But he and Robinson have a new team
'ther player to follow this season, too.
from the "They're excited to come back
recruiting to Michigan, hang out with us,
watch our games," Albrecht said.
Vert, his "They're still Michigan Men and
Stauskas, really great friends of ours."
on remains
the trio BY THE NUMBERS
ampus, the T
lks to them
e times a
of questions
'ert said. isin 2?;= ygthrecrdfr
LeVert's
his friends
words of
McGary to
t injury and Pa on N ns.
obinson to 80 b;
camp.
t the three
o the NBA
the pentad,
he lessons -arerhiprogrnmhstory
d Robinson
nefit LeVert
e about the SeedgiventotheWors s h
t," Albrecht madesa ron to the Fi For'n2013
W covering before travel
H
pu
sta
imstring injury first two games,
surprise to see jun
ts Nagelvoort's Steve Racine sta
queto Saturday.
Atus inquestion But with Nage
out of practice M
By ZACH SHAW sore hamstring, it
Daily Sports Writer how long he'll be c
a familiar scena
When facing off against No.
7 UMass Lowell and No. 12
Boston University in its trip to
Boston this weekend, the No.
14 Michigan hockey team will
need all hands on deck if it
wants to walk away with wins.
Monday's practice provided
some
optimism, NOTEBOOK
as freshman
forward Tony Calderone
returned to the ice after
rehabbing a groin injury for the
past few weeks, putting himself
in prime position to make his
collegiate debut Friday.
"He likely could've played
last weekend," said Michigan
coach Red Berenson. "We
wanted to be sure and give him
a little more time on the ice, so
he should be good to go now. If
M; he can get through the week of
practice, he's got a good shot at
playing this weekend."
Swapping places with
Calderone on the bench
for the time being is senior
forward Andrew Sinelli. After
suffering a hit from behind that
resulted in the ejection of New
Hampshire's Dylan Maller on
Saturday night, Sinelli is day-
to-day with pain in his shoulder
and groin, but he isn't expected
to be out for long.
"Groins are hard, because
in hockey, you can't go out
and skate with a hurt groin,"
Berenson said. "You have to stay
off the ice and ride the bike or
some other things, but skating's
the worst thing you can do with
a hurt groin, and Sinelli's had
a little bit of a history, so we're
going to take it slow."
GOALIE BATTLE WAGES
ON:
Another player out with
injury is sophomore goaltender
Zach Nagelvoort. After
surrendering nine goals in his
Wolverine netmin
"We don't pu
on practice,
but if you're
the starting
goalie, you're
going to start
most of the
games unless
you're giving
up too many
bad goals,"
Berenson said.
"This year,
Nagelvoort
started the sea
starter. But just1
when Racine start
starter and in th
he got hurt, an
carried the mail f
, it wasn't a Berenson exp
ior goaltender to return to pr
trting in net couple days an
the starting spo
Avoort sitting until that hap
onday with a Racine is the g
isn't clear just may suit Michig
tut. And that's Racine stopped?
rio for both Saturday's 2-1 w
ders. "If you kee
it everything against down
"It was about
being ready
and wired and
determined."
son as our were able to do t
like last year a good result."
ted out as our
e third game FACING OFF
d Naglevoort
'or a while, so Berenson wa
ects Nagelvoort Saturday's win, and that uptick
actice within a was most evident in faceoffs.
d contend for After going 32-for-64 in
t in Boston, but faceoffs in Friday's 5-1 loss, the
pens for sure, Wolverines went 40-of-62 to
o-to guy. That give themselves an early edge.
gan just fine, as "That gives you an idea of
31-of-32 shots in how we competed," Berenson
in. said. "The game starts with
p your goals- faceoffs, and faceoffs start with.
under three, being prepared. We need people
you have a that are desperate in faceoffs,
good chance they're committed to the battle,
to win," and that's where the game
Berenson said. starts. We did that Saturday.
"With this "We competed harder and
team, if we competed better, and that
give up three was the difference in the
goals or more, game. Just our approach, it
we're probably wasn't technique, it was about
not going to being ready and wired and
win, and that's determined that we're going to
the first game come out on top, that we want it
where we the most."
Friday, October 24,2014
9w mto 530 PM
- 1225 South Hall
University of Michigan Law School
lawumich.edu/FnReform I OUMFinReg
PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Junior goaltender Steve Racine made 31 saves as the Wolverines won their first game of the season Saturday at Yost.
* I